Fla. cop shoots armed man fleeing from traffic stop

Man in his teens or early 20s was shot as authorities say he tried to run from a car after a traffic stop in Boynton Beach

By Sonja Isger
The Palm Beach Post

BOYTON, Fla. — Boynton Beach Police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said the officer had to make a "less than split-second" decision when he saw the young man brandishing a gun. He remains shaken, she said. "The officer was obviously in fear for his life and safety."

A young man in his teens or early 20s was shot as authorities say he tried to run from a car after a traffic stop in Boynton Beach.

The officer was conducting a traffic stop on a silver (not gold as police initially reported) Honda Accord with five males in their late teens and early 20s inside.

"One of the males exited the vehicle, attempted to flee and then brandished a handgun toward an officer," according to Boynton Beach police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater. "The officer fired his gun. It is unknown at this time if the suspect fired his gun."

Investigators have recovered three shell casings as well as the suspect's gun, Slater said in a written update.

Early accounts say events unfolded after an officer pulled over a car with five people inside at about 2:30 a.m. When the car stopped one person got out and attempted to run. Authorities on the scene say that person had a gun and that is when the officer fired his gun.

The person was hit and is now at Delray Medical Center. The officer was unhurt and will be on paid leave while the shooting is investigated, as is standard procedure. The four other people who were in the car have been detained by police.

The police have blocked off an area near some homes. It's not clear if anyone in the car has ties to the homes.